On August 28, we had the privilege of welcoming Margaret Millett, a globally recognized figure in business continuity and resilience, for a special edition of our Perspectives: Ask the Expert webinar series.
With over 25 years of experience in international organizations, Margaret shared her advice for tackling the complex challenges faced by professionals in the field with openness and pragmatism.
As a continuity and resilience consultant, I was particularly impressed by the richness of her insights. In this article, I share with you the ideas, reflections, and advice that I believe are worth remembering... and putting into practice!
Enjoy!
Myriam Gilles
One of the highlights of the session came from a question about managing a cyber crisis and fostering collaboration between IT security and continuity teams. Margaret emphasized a common pitfall: too many organizations work in silos, with separate cyber incident response plans on one side and continuity or crisis management plans on the other.
Her advice was clear: break down these silos by holding regular meetings, clarifying roles and responsibilities before a crisis occurs, and running joint exercises. She also stressed the importance of knowing exactly who takes the lead when a cyber incident escalates — is it the CISO, the CIO, or the crisis management team? This must be defined in advance because, as she reminded us, “in cybersecurity, every minute counts.”
Beyond governance, this alignment ensures faster and more consistent communication with clients, regulators, and partners — protecting not only operational capacity but also organizational reputation.
Another standout exchange addressed artificial intelligence and its potential impact on business continuity and disaster recovery practices. Margaret noted that each wave of new technology brings the same fear: “this will replace us.” Yet, in her view, AI should be seen as a lever to support and enhance our work.
She highlighted practical applications such as automating plan templates, generating exercise scenarios, or helping analyze and categorize data. At the same time, she warned about two critical risks:
“AI should be an enabler, not a decision-maker,” she summarized, urging practitioners to start experimenting with AI tools now, even in personal use, as their integration into organizations is only a matter of time.
Throughout the session, Margaret also shared valuable perspectives on a wide range of issues:
This exchange with Margaret Millett confirmed what many resilience professionals already sense: the challenges of continuity are increasingly cross-functional, cutting across technology, processes, partnerships, and even organizational culture. More than ever, we must build bridges, adopt a holistic vision, and leverage new tools like AI with discernment.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Margaret for her authenticity and generosity. Her experience reminds us that when it comes to the toughest questions in our field, there are rarely simple answers — but there are proven strategies to move forward with confidence.
Myriam Gilles is an experienced consultant with nearly twenty years of experience in project management and coordination in the fields of emergency measures, civil security, and IT. Her multidisciplinary background, enriched by experiences within public and private organizations in France and Quebec, has enabled her to develop great adaptability while being proactive and solution oriented.
